I need more govt in my life...

Jeepster47

Why is that scary?  Because those are the folks who are voting for candidates and programs based solely on the hype and not on an intelligent understanding of the issues and people pushing them.

Watch an interview on the street clip.  Those folks can tell you a pop singer's name, latest song, and background, but can't connect a name with the face of our current or past politicians.  Voting on what's cool and not on what's good for the country is what has reduced us to the level we're currently descending through.

Eggcelsior

Jeepster47 said:

Why is that scary?  Because those are the folks who are voting for candidates and programs based solely on the hype and not on an intelligent understanding of the issues and people pushing them.

Watch an interview on the street clip.  Those folks can tell you a pop singer's name, latest song, and background, but can't connect a name with the face of our current or past politicians.  Voting on what's cool and not on what's good for the country is what has reduced us to the level we're currently descending through.

Not really. The problem is the people that don't vote. Less than half of the USA registered voters actually vote during midterms and 40% stay home in Presidential years.

Voter Apathy is the problem, not "whats cool". Special interests run this country because we allow them to by re-electing people with a 12% approval rating. 

ksmyrl

Special interests also built the food pyramid
Sorry, couldn't resist that one...

Let me try one more time to bring this back to the OP's topic, and hopefully more eloquently than I've done so far.

The federal government has been telling American's what we should eat since 1916, in some shape or fashion. Since then we've become fatter, sicker, much more diabetic, and more dependent on medication than ever before. All I'm saying is it's okay to question conventional wisdom and modern science, both have been wrong before.

Acn

Zmokin said:

GATraveller said:

Anyone have any good Tofurky recipes? 

I do I do.
My favorite Tofurky recipe is:





Throw it in the garbage and cook a real turkey.

Tofu has too much estrogen in it and it will make a man grow boobs.
That S--- ain't healthy for men.

Well, except for the prostate.  It's super healthy for that.

And that is the problem with too much specificity in any top-down, general dietary advice - pretty much every food has some good and some bad points and an optimal diet is extremely personal, since it almost entirely depends on your family history and genetic make up, as well as the bacterial composition of your gut. 

Ultimately though, Michael Pollan probably has the best general advice - "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

Jeepster47

@Eggcelsior ... I'd say we're arguing about the two of the top problems today ... let's agree that between the two we're championing, we've got a super majority of the problem leading to the wrong people in office.

Now, if you throw in the biased news reporting of today, we've got 99.9% of the problem identified.

Acn

ksmyrl said:

Special interests also built the food pyramid
Sorry, couldn't resist that one...

Let me try one more time to bring this back to the OP's topic, and hopefully more eloquently than I've done so far.

The federal government has been telling American's what we should eat since 1916, in some shape or fashion. Since then we've become fatter, sicker, much more diabetic, and more dependent on medication than ever before. All I'm saying is it's okay to question conventional wisdom and modern science, both have been wrong before.

Also in that timeframe we've nearly doubled the amount of meat we eat, moved to a predominantly sedentary lifestyle, and seen the creation of industries based on giving us food that is convenient and/or fast, without regard to nutrition.  All 3 of those factors are much more related to the general state of American health than the federal government making recommendations on our diet. 

Eggcelsior

ksmyrl said:

Special interests also built the food pyramid
Sorry, couldn't resist that one...

Let me try one more time to bring this back to the OP's topic, and hopefully more eloquently than I've done so far.

The federal government has been telling American's what we should eat since 1916, in some shape or fashion. Since then we've become fatter, sicker, much more diabetic, and more dependent on medication than ever before. All I'm saying is it's okay to question conventional wisdom and modern science, both have been wrong before.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA.

This is so reductive and oversimplified that I can't believe you are serious. 

ksmyrl

Dang...okay I'm done. I've got a nice flank steak marinating for tonight...I'm back to cooking posts. You win.

Jeepster47

Acn said:

... creation of industries based on giving us food that is convenient and/or fast, without regard to nutrition. ...

It's not only the MickyD's type industries, but our local butcher has also changed to satisfy our present desires.  Our local small town market has been in business for over half a century.  The half-owner who handles the meat side of the business told me, that during that time, they have gradually changed the type of cuts they sell.  A number of cuts used to go into slow cooks that involved all day braising, crock pots or pressure cookers.  Most buyers don't have time for that anymore, so those cuts become hamburger because it's a fast cook.

HendersonTRKing

3 Rules:

1.  Keep your eyes open and follow the money.
2.  All things in moderation, except moderation.
3.  Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think.  

pgprescott

Eggcelsior said:

Jeepster47 said:

Why is that scary?  Because those are the folks who are voting for candidates and programs based solely on the hype and not on an intelligent understanding of the issues and people pushing them.

Watch an interview on the street clip.  Those folks can tell you a pop singer's name, latest song, and background, but can't connect a name with the face of our current or past politicians.  Voting on what's cool and not on what's good for the country is what has reduced us to the level we're currently descending through.

Not really. The problem is the people that don't vote. Less than half of the USA registered voters actually vote during midterms and 40% stay home in Presidential years.

Voter Apathy is the problem, not "whats cool". Special interests run this country because we allow them to by re-electing people with a 12% approval rating. 

Half right. Voter turnout is the problem, too many dumb people still voting. 

Eggcelsior

I'm not trying to win. Remove "the federal government" line and replace it with "rapid economic growth from 1950 to 1980" and you are a lot closer to an appropriate generalized statement for today's "diseases of excess". That's why I laughed. The only thing the Federal Government did was get the country into WW2 which set us up for 30 years of unrivaled growth. Everything else has been in response, therefore, reactive. Not causal. 

Ladeback69

I am have been trying to follow a low carb diet and when I follow it to a tee I lose weight and keep weight off.  When I don't follow a low carb diet like in the last 6 months, I put weight back on and it is hard to lose.  Some people can process grains better then others.  If I had to chose between a steak and a baked potato, the steak wins every time.  I'm fuller longer and it taste better.  Don't get me wrong, I like carbs, but they don't like me.  I also try and eat more green vegetables every day too.  The government needs to stop worrying about what we eat, its non of there business.  They have to much control as it is now.  The issue is going to be are going able to keep producing beef in the quantities we like in the next 10 to 20 years.  Beef is getting higher all the time too and I bet the government is behind that too.  

theyolksonyou

Ladeback69 said:

The government needs to stop worrying about what we eat, its non of there business.  They have to much control as it is now.

Ding, ding....

Jeepster47

Over half the folks in congress have a net worth in excess of one million dollars.  Think they've taken on their profession out of altruistic motives?  Jason started this thread with a tongue in cheek expression that there is too much intervention in our lives today.  With that, I whole heartedly agree.  Government is one institution where the "less is more" rule should be enthusiastically applied.

Okay, now I've got to put this soap box away and go take my meds. 

Eggcelsior

Ladeback69 said:

I am have been trying to follow a low carb diet and when I follow it to a tee I lose weight and keep weight off.  When I don't follow a low carb diet like in the last 6 months, I put weight back on and it is hard to lose.  Some people can process grains better then others.  If I had to chose between a steak and a baked potato, the steak wins every time.  I'm fuller longer and it taste better.  Don't get me wrong, I like carbs, but they don't like me.  I also try and eat more green vegetables every day too.  The government needs to stop worrying about what we eat, its non of there business.  They have to much control as it is now.  The issue is going to be are going able to keep producing beef in the quantities we like in the next 10 to 20 years.  Beef is getting higher all the time too and I bet the government is behind that too.  

Nah. It's the World Oil Market and Mother Nature. The price of fuel and drought over the past few years have the cattle population at 1950's levels. It will take a few years to correct and get supply meeting(meating?) demand.

It has me more and more thinking about getting a big chest freezer and going in on a side of beef like my parents used to do.

grege345

I think the education system is flawless! Teachers should be paid way more. 

Eggcelsior

grege345 said:

I think the education system is flawless! Teachers should be paid way more. 

It's not. Yes.

Zmokin

Acn said:
Also in that timeframe we've nearly doubled the amount of meat we eat, moved to a predominantly sedentary lifestyle, and seen the creation of industries based on giving us food that is convenient and/or fast, without regard to nutrition.  All 3 of those factors are much more related to the general state of American health than the federal government making recommendations on our diet. 

I blame it all on McDonald's.

Super-size me really did Super-size people.

Should watch the documentary if you haven't seen it yet.

Ladeback69

Eggcelsior said:

Ladeback69 said:

I am have been trying to follow a low carb diet and when I follow it to a tee I lose weight and keep weight off.  When I don't follow a low carb diet like in the last 6 months, I put weight back on and it is hard to lose.  Some people can process grains better then others.  If I had to chose between a steak and a baked potato, the steak wins every time.  I'm fuller longer and it taste better.  Don't get me wrong, I like carbs, but they don't like me.  I also try and eat more green vegetables every day too.  The government needs to stop worrying about what we eat, its non of there business.  They have to much control as it is now.  The issue is going to be are going able to keep producing beef in the quantities we like in the next 10 to 20 years.  Beef is getting higher all the time too and I bet the government is behind that too.  

Nah. It's the World Oil Market and Mother Nature. The price of fuel and drought over the past few years have the cattle population at 1950's levels. It will take a few years to correct and get supply meeting(meating?) demand.

It has me more and more thinking about getting a big chest freezer and going in on a side of beef like my parents used to do.

My folks used to go in with another family and get a prize 4H beef and split it.  That was some great beef growing up.  I almost got an upright freezer, but with my hip issues I couldn't move it where I needed it.  I am thinking of getting a small chest freezer for the basement.

fishlessman

73000 per year plus for public elementary here in mass. oh right, that should be more youve got to be kidding me

henapple

Eggcelsior

fishlessman said:

73000 per year plus for public elementary here in mass. oh right, that should be more youve got to be kidding me

You all do well. In my county it's low 30s. Avg national salary is $36k. 40k in MA so your county must love their teachers.

Zmokin

grege345 said:

I think the education system is flawless! Teachers should be paid way more. 

I'm sorry, but I don't follow your logic.  If the education system is flawless, then shouldn't the teachers be making the right amount.  Afterall, if they are underpaid, isn't that a flaw in the education system?

Acn

Eggcelsior said:

fishlessman said:

73000 per year plus for public elementary here in mass. oh right, that should be more youve got to be kidding me

You all do well. In my county it's low 30s. Avg national salary is $36k. 40k in MA so your county must love their teachers.

MA also gets graded as best schools in the country: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/01/15/247-wall-st-states-best-schools/21388041/

Zmokin

henapple said:

that is priceless.

I always like to claim I am a vegetarian.

they say you are what you eat.

I eat vegetarians (cows, pigs, etc), therefore I am a vegetarian.

Regardless of what you eat, we all are getting our energy from re-cycled solar energy.  Plants turn sunlight into chemically stored energy.  Animals that eat plants are just concentrating & changing the flavor of the stored chemical energy.  We need processed energy because our bodies aren't designed to open our mouths and face the sun to get the energy we need to survive.

Ladeback69

Eggcelsior said:

fishlessman said:

73000 per year plus for public elementary here in mass. oh right, that should be more youve got to be kidding me

You all do well. In my county it's low 30s. Avg national salary is $36k. 40k in MA so your county must love their teachers.

Higher cost of living, but that is a pretty good salary.  My mom taught for 33 years and I don't think she ever got much over $30K.  They paid ok here in KC, but it could be better.  The government also keeps talking about kids going year round, which would save a daycare in the summer for us, but my son wouldn't like it or any of his friends.  Our education system needs a lot of work.  We were once high on education and ranked high, now we are near the bottom and falling behind other country's.  Now the school my son is in I am happy with though.  He is Kindergarten and he has learned a lot more then I did 45 years ago.   

GATraveller

Forget the government.....I just do as Oprah says.

pgprescott

Eggcelsior said:

fishlessman said:

73000 per year plus for public elementary here in mass. oh right, that should be more youve got to be kidding me

You all do well. In my county it's low 30s. Avg national salary is $36k. 40k in MA so your county must love their teachers.

I'm all for the teachers, but I am confident that your figures do not include benefits which are part of the compensation. This is a common trick of the teachers union. Also one must figure in the value of tenure in many areas. I would love to have this level of job security. Then there is the defined work day and year which amounts to somewhere between 8-9 months of work. In our area, many contracts also include "sick days". One might be given 15 sick days (3 weeks/ year?) which are able to be saved and accumulated to the tune of tens and even hundreds of thousands of tax dollars paid upon retirement. I also will point out that teaching is not the only profession that requires work done after hours or monies spent on supplies. Like I said, I am all for teachers being treated fairly, but lets keep the conversation honest.

Eggcelsior

Ladeback69 said:

Eggcelsior said:

fishlessman said:

73000 per year plus for public elementary here in mass. oh right, that should be more youve got to be kidding me

You all do well. In my county it's low 30s. Avg national salary is $36k. 40k in MA so your county must love their teachers.

Higher cost of living, but that is a pretty good salary.  My mom taught for 33 years and I don't think she ever got much over $30K.  They paid ok here in KC, but it could be better.  The government also keeps talking about kids going year round, which would save a daycare in the summer for us, but my son wouldn't like it or any of his friends.  Our education system needs a lot of work.  We were once high on education and ranked high, now we are near the bottom and falling behind other country's.  Now the school my son is in I am happy with though.  He is Kindergarten and he has learned a lot more then I did 45 years ago.   

It's all relative to where you live I suppose. I have friends who are teachers and they can't afford to live near where they teach. A couple of them keep part-time jobs to make ends meet.